Convention viewership: Dems beat GOP on Day 1

Philadelphia, July 27: The viewers' turnout on the first night (July 25) at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) was more than that of the Republican National Convention (RNC) that happened last week.

According to Nielsen data released on Tuesday (July 26), the broadcast and cable coverage of the DNC averaged 26 million viewers (10 pm to 11.30 pm Eastern Time on Monday which is 7.30 am to 9 am IST on Tuesday) and it was expected to go up once ratings for smaller channels were added up. The corresponding viewers' number on the inaugural night (July 18) of the RNC was 23 million.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland held between July 18-21, 2016. AP/PTI

It was also said that the CNN was the highest-rated channel with 6.2 million viewers during the DNC and it left behind other broadcast networks like the NBC, ABC and CBS.

The DNC's proceedings fetched even higher ratings than the inaugural night of the party convention held four years ago, when the combined viewership of the broadcast and cable coverage averaged 22 million.

The DNC's first night was studded with stars like First Lady Michelle Obama, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and their speeches gave the show that much boost, it was said.

On the first night of the RNC, the keynote speaker was Melania Trump, the wife of the GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. Her speech was, however, marred by the allegations of plagiarism of a presentation which was made by Michelle Obama at the DNC in 2008. Even Trump's acceptance speech delivered on July 21, the final day of the convention, did not meet the expectations of many channels.

The Nielsen ratings only take into account the traditional television viewership.